Brush-holder.



G.T.GROGKER.

BRUSH HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED JUNEIG, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

CLARENCE T. CROCKER, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR '10 ALLIS-CI-IALMERS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY, AND THE BULLOCK ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BRUSH-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 16, 1906.

Patented June 25, 1912. Serial No. 322,002.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE T. CRooKnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brush-Holders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to brush-holders for dynamo-electric machines, and particularly to those employed in inclosed motors such as railway motors.

It is frequently necessary to remove or replace the brushes of a dynamo-electric machine. In such case the spring-pressure device, as the pressure finger or pressure spring, must be lifted from the brush. In order to facilitate the removal, repair, or replacing of a brush it is desirable that means be provided for supporting or retaining the pressure device in an inoperative position.

Inclosed motors such as railway motors usually have small hand holes for providing access to the brushes. It is quite essential therefore, that the brush holders of inclosed motors have pressure devices which can be thrown out of action or moved to an inoperative position by a simple operation requiring the use of one hand only of the operator. Several types of brush hold ers have been devised for this purpose, none of which have proved entirely satisfactory.

The object of my invention is to provide a brush holder having a pressure device which can be placed and held in an inoperative position and again thrown into action with facility, the operations required for this purpose being so simple that both hands of the operator are not required.

A further object is to provide a brush holder which is simple in construction, strong, durable and suitable for use on all machines.

In carrying out my invention, I provide means for engaging and supporting the pressure device of the brush holder when it is lifted from the brush and provide automatic means for releasing the pressure device from the catch. Thus the operator can with one hand lift the pressure device into an inoperative position and when desired can again throw the pressure device into action.

More specifically considered, my invention consists in a brush-holder comprising a frame, casting or other stationary member, a pressure finger having a pivotal support, a locking plate bearing on the finger but m0vable relatively thereto, a coil spring surrounding the pivotal support and engaging the frame at one of its ends and the locking plate at the other, and a catch on the frame or casting located in proximity to the looking plate, the parts being so arranged and constructed that when the operator raises the finger out of engagement with the brush 'the locking plate rides over the catch, which after a predetermined movement of the finger engages a shoulder or notch on the plate holding the pressure device in an inoperative position, and when the operator presses downwardly on the pressure finger, the locking plate is lifted out of engagement with the catch and the finger is again thrown into action.

My invention still further consists in the details of construction and the combinations and arrangements of parts described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of the brushholder, parts being broken away, showing the pressure finger in action; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the pressure finger supported in an inoperative position; Fig. 3 is a plan View of the brush-holder, parts being in section; Fig. t is a partial rear sectional elevation, the section being taken along thelines 44; of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail of the spool or sleeve upon which the pressure finger is mounted; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the pressure finger; and Fig. 7 is an elevation of the locking plate employed in the brush holder.

Referring now to the figures of the drawing, I have shown at 10 a stationary frame or casting adapted to be secured to the dynamo-electric machine by means of bolts passing through the slotted neck 11. The frame or casting is provided at one end with a brush socket 12, adapted to receive brush 13. The brush ishere connected by means of a flexible conductor 14 to the frame or casting as at 15, the upper end of the brush being provided with a cap 16 to which one end of the flexible conductor 14 is riveted.

The pressure device consists, in this case, of a pivoted pressure finger l7, and a spring pressed locking plate 18 held yieldingly upon the finger by a coil spring 19 surrounding the pivotal support 20. The finger is preferably made from sheet metal punching and consists of two parallel ears or side plates 21 and 21 joined together by the integral bridging portion 22, the rear part of which is cut away. As shown in the drawings, the ends of the ears or side plates 21 and 21 are slotted at 23 to receive the pivotal support. The opposite end of the finger is provided with a curved extension 24 adapted to be grasped by the operator to lift the finger from the brush. A portion of the end of the side plate 21 is cut and bent inward forming a projection 25, the purpose of which will be explained later. The forward part of the pressure finger is preferably provided with a projection or lug 26 adopted to engage the end of the brush. The locking plate 18 (shown in detail in Fig. 7 is also preferably made from sheet metal. This plate is provided with an elongated hole or opening 27 slightly larger at one end than at the other, through which opening the pivotal support 20 passes. The plate 18 is provided on one side of the opening 27 with a shoulder 28 which normally engages the bridging portion 22 of the pressure finger at one side of its pivotal support, and is provided on the other side ofsaid opening with a shoulder 29 arranged to engage the projection 25 of the pressure finger at the opposite side of said pivotal support. The lower part of the plate 18 is provided with a shoulder 30 adapted to engage a locking catch 31 secured to the lower part of the frame or casting, which catch is in the path of movement of the lower part of the locking plate. The plate 18 is also provided with a comparatively small hole or opening 32 to receive one end of the pressure spring 19.

The pivotal support 20 consists of a spool or sleeve 33 and a pin 34: adapted to be secured to the opposite sides of the frame or casting. The spool or sleeve is provided near one end with a groove 35, and near the other end with a groove 36 approximately twice as wide as the groove 35. The purpose of these grooves is to receive the sides of the pressure finger and locking plate so as to prevent endwise movement of said parts.

hen the parts are assembled, the sides of the pressure finger and locking plate are in the grooves of the spool which is held in position in the frame or casting by the pin 34. One end of the coil spring bears on the rear portion of the frame or casting and the other end of the spring extends through the small hole 32 of the locking plate. The locking plate is located at the side 21 of the finger, the shoulder or nose 2S bearing on the bridging portion of the finger and thereby transmitting the pressure of the spring to the finger, which is thus held yieldingly onto the brush. Thus it is seen that the coil spring 19 not only presses the finger onto the brush but holds the locking plate yieldingly onto the finger and in such a manner as to permit a slight relative movement between the two parts, as will be explained.

lVhen the operator desires to throw the pressure device out of action for repairs or any other purpose, he grasps the end of the pressure finger 17 and lifts the finger upward, swinging the latter and the locking plate 18 around the pivotal support. lVhen the pressure finger is swung upward, the lower part of the locking plate engages the catch 31 and rides over the latter until the shoulder 30 passes beyond the end of the catch, permitting the locking plate to drop down with the shoulder now on the opposite side of the catch. The finger is now held in its raised position, as shown in Fig. 2, by the engagement of the shoulder 30 of the locking plate and catch 31. hen the operator desires to release the pressure device from its inoperative position, and again to throw it into action, he merely presses the pressure finger downward or toward the brush. lVhen the pressure finger is thus moved downward, the lug 25 at the rear end of the pressure finger by the engagementwith the shoulder 29 of the locking plate lifts the latter upward out of engagement with the catch 31, permitting the finger to drop down into engagement with the brush. Thus it is seen that by simply lifting the pressure finger upward the pressure device is thrown out of action and by moving the pressure finger downward a short distance, the locking plate is released and the pressure finger is again thrown into action. The pressure finger being made out of sheet metal is cheap, easy to make, and light in weight, because of the last readily following all movements of the brush on account of irregularities of the commutator. I have shown the locking plate and finger held yieldingly together by the main pressure spring 19. It is obvious, however, that they could be so held together by any other desired means.

I do not wish to be confined to the details of construction shown but aim in my claims to cover all modifications which do not in volve a departure from the spirit and scope of my invention.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 1. In abrush-holder, a frame, a brush, a pressure device for said brush, said pressure device including a spring-pressed plate having a positive stop, and a stationary catch for engaging and supporting the pressure device through said plate when the latter is lifted from the brush but disengageable from the pressure device by pressure upon the lat ter toward the brush.

2. In combination, a current collecting brush for dynamo-electric machines, a pressure device for said brush, and stationary means for holding said pressure device away from said brush, said pressure device including means for rendering said holding means inoperative.

3. In combination, a current collecting brush for dynamo-electric machines, a pres sure device for said brush, and a stationary catch for holding said pressure device away from said brush, said pressure device including means for releasing itself from the catch upon a downward pressure on said pressure device.

I. In a brush-holder, a frame or casting, a brush, a pressure finger, a pivotal support for said finger, a pressure spring coiled about the pivotal support and tending to move the pressure finger toward the brush at all times, and means for supporting the pressure finger in an inoperative position against such tendency when such finger is lifted away from the brush, said means be ing releasable by additional pressure on the finger toward the brush.

5. In a brushholder, a frame or casting, a brush, a pressure finger having a locking portion, a pivotal support for said finger, a pressure spring coiled about the pivotal support and tending to move the pressure finger toward the brush, and a stationary catch for supporting the pressure finger against the pressure of said spring when the finger is lifted from the brush, said catch being released by a movement of the finger toward the brush.

6. In a brushholder, a frame or casting, a brush, a pressure device always biased toward said brush and including a member adapted to bear on said brush and a locking member carried thereby, and a stationary catch on the frame or casting, the parts being so constructed that when the pressure device is lifted, the locking member engages the catch.

'7. In a brush-holder, a frame or casting, a pressure device always biased toward said brush and including a pressure finger and a locking member, and a stationary catch adapted to engage said locking member when the pressure device is raised.

8. In a brush-holder, a frame or casting, a pressure device including a pressure finger and a spring-pressed locking member, and a catch for engaging said locking member and supporting the pressure device when the latter is raised.

9. In a brush-holder, a frame or casting, a pressure device always biased toward said brush and including a pressure finger and a locking member movable relatively thereto, and a catch on said frame or casting adapted to engage said locking member and support the pressure device when the lat ter is raised and to be released therefrom when the pressure finger is moved downward.

10. In a brush-holder, a frame or casting, a pressure device including a pressure finger and a spring pressed plate carried there by slightly movable relatively thereto, and a catch on said frame or casting adjacent the plate, the plate engaging the latch to support the pressure finger when the latter is raised.

11. In a brush-holder, a frame or cast ing, apressure device including a pressure finger and a spring pressed plate carried thereby and movable relatively thereto, and a catch on said frame or casting adja cent the plate arranged to engage the plate and support the finger when the latter is raised and to be disengaged from the plate when downward pressure is placed on the finger.

12. In a brush-holder, a frame or casting, a pressure device including a pressure finger and a spring pressed locking plate carried thereby, and a catch on said frame or casting arranged to engage the plate when the pressure finger is lifted and to be disengaged from the plate when the finger is pressed downward.

13. In combination, a brushholder frame or casting, a pressure device comprising a pivoted pressure finger and a spring-pressed locking plate bearing on said finger but movable relatively thereto, said plate being provided with a catch on the frame or casting adapted to engage a shoulder on the plate when the pressure finger is lifted, the relative movement between the said plate and said finger allowing the locking plate to be lifted out of engagement with the catch when the finger is pressed downward.

14. In a brushholder, a frame or casting a pivoted pressure finger, a locking plate adapted to engage said finger on both sides of the pivotal support, a spring bearing on said plate, said plate having a shoulder on its lower side, and a catch on the frame or casting, the plate when the finger is raised being adapted to ride over the catch until the shoulder is engaged by the catch by means of which the finger is supported in raised position, the plate being lifted out of engagement with the catch when the finger is pressed downward.

15. In a brush-holder, a frame or casting, a pressure finger, a pivotal support therefor, a locking plate supported on said finger, a coiled spring on the pivotal support having one end engaging the frame or cast ing and the other end engaging the locking plate, and a catch on the frame or casting, the mounting of the locking plate causing the latter to engage the catch when the pressure finger is raised and to be released therefrom when the pressure finger is moved downward.

16. In a brush-holder, a frame or casting, a pivoted pressure finger, a spring pressed locking plate having a shoulder normally engaging the finger at each side of its pivotal support, said locking plate being movable relatively to said finger, and a catch on the frame or casting in the path of movement of the lower portion of the plate, the pressure finger when raised a predetermined amount causing the plate to engage the catch, and the finger when pressed downward causing the plate to be lifted from the catch and released therefrom.

17. In a brush-holder, a frame or castin a pressure finger, a pivotal support therefor, a locking plate extending on both sides of the pivotal support normally engaging portions of the finger on each side of the support, said brush being movable relatively to said finger, a pressure spring coiled about the support and having one end engaging the frame or casting and the other end en gaging the locking plate, and a catch in the path of movement of said locking plate, whereby when said pressure finger is raised the locking plate rides over and engages the catch, and when the pressure finger is pressed downward the locking plate is lifted out of engagement with the catch and the pressure finger permitted to descend.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE T. CROCKER. Witnesses ARTHUR F. Kwls, FRED J. KINSEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the G0mmissi0ner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

